This marks the second successful GSLV launch using an indigenous cryogenic engine. The first launch, on April 15, 2010 was a failure, followed by the second one on January 5, 2014 which was a success.

GSLV-D6 carrying GSAT-6 lifted off from Sriharikota spaceport at 4.52pm as scheduled. This was the ninth flight of the Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Around 17 minutes after liftoff, the rocket injected GSAT-6 into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), making the mission a success.

"We have understood the intricacies of a cryogenic engine. The rocket performed normally. This shows that our January, 2014 success with the cryogenic engine was not a fluke," said Isro chairman A S Kiran Kumar.

GSAT-6 provides communication through five spot beams in S-band and a national beam in C-band for strategic users. One of the advanced features of GSAT-6 satellite is its S-Band Unfurlable Antenna of 6 m diameter. This is the largest satellite antenna realized by Isro and it has a life of nine years. GSAT-6 will be used mainly for military purposes.

GSLV-D6 vehicle was configured with all its three stages including the cryogenic upper stage (CUS) similar to the ones successfully flown during the previous GSLV-D5 mission in January 2014, an Isro statement said.